Comments on: Tag, You’re It! How To Write Excellent Dialogue Tags http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/ A place for people who love, read and write children's literature. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:53:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Kidlit.com · Beginning Workshop #1 http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-19815 Kidlit.com · Beginning Workshop #1 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:32:29 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-19815 [...] dialogue tags are overwritten here. We don’t know who Phillip is, also. Maybe some context. Had he managed to get out? Was [...] [...] dialogue tags are overwritten here. We don’t know who Phillip is, also. Maybe some context. Had he managed to get out? Was [...]

]]> By: Lynne Matson http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-10838 Lynne Matson Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:07:48 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-10838 I'm picturing Dixie (maybe because I live in the South?) but since I'm stuck on the cup, that's a problem, since I should be sucked into the story not the tableware. Great example. Thanks for keeping these older posts. This one in particular was really helpful, and I've used it to trim hundreds of words (especially tags) from my first MS. Thanks Mary! Your blog is a fantastic resource for writers. Lynne I’m picturing Dixie (maybe because I live in the South?) but since I’m stuck on the cup, that’s a problem, since I should be sucked into the story not the tableware. Great example. Thanks for keeping these older posts. This one in particular was really helpful, and I’ve used it to trim hundreds of words (especially tags) from my first MS. Thanks Mary! Your blog is a fantastic resource for writers.
Lynne

]]> By: Kidlit.com · Dialogue Masterclass http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-2479 Kidlit.com · Dialogue Masterclass Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:36:44 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-2479 [...] Finally, go ahead and wander on back to Kidlit.com for an old post I did about dialogue tags, which can be found by clicking here. [...] [...] Finally, go ahead and wander on back to Kidlit.com for an old post I did about dialogue tags, which can be found by clicking here. [...]

]]> By: Mary http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-1995 Mary Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:26:02 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-1995 Julie and Susan -- I, er, planned it that way, to illustrate my point. Yes, that's it. :) Julie and Susan — I, er, planned it that way, to illustrate my point. Yes, that’s it. :)

]]> By: Susan James http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-1994 Susan James Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:05:02 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-1994 LOL Julie! I agree. I got so distracted with what the heck a dewy wax cup was I forgot what they were talking about. Great examples Mary. Thanks. LOL Julie! I agree. I got so distracted with what the heck a dewy wax cup was I forgot what they were talking about.

Great examples Mary. Thanks.

]]> By: Julie Duck http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-1990 Julie Duck Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:15:59 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-1990 You had me at the dewy wax cup. Is it Solo or Dixie? This is an excellent post. I've beta read a few stories that exude bad dialogue. Makes for an excruciating read! - Julie You had me at the dewy wax cup. Is it Solo or Dixie?

This is an excellent post. I’ve beta read a few stories that exude bad dialogue. Makes for an excruciating read!

- Julie

]]> By: Mya http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Mya Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:55:22 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-294 I especially enjoyed the pointer on choreography. I wrote a scene recently that was centered around the dinner table, and I realized after reading this how much I needed to insert some prose between the dialogues. I especially enjoyed the pointer on choreography. I wrote a scene recently that was centered around the dinner table, and I realized after reading this how much I needed to insert some prose between the dialogues.

]]> By: Kristin http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-275 Kristin Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:46:47 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-275 I love what this says about choreography. I've spent a lot of time this past year doing theater and must say that it's made me think a lot more about written action, thanks to all of the blocking we had to do. It's interesting because as seen with the example included here, being too specific about every single action happening is unnecessary and distracting. I think that often actors/actresses also prefer less of this sort of padding as it allows them freedom to interpret the character and fill in the gaps with their own idea of the character's behavior. In both cases, as long as the dialogue makes the emotions clear and the character(s) is (/are) already well-established, there isn't a need for every action to be spelled out. I love what this says about choreography. I’ve spent a lot of time this past year doing theater and must say that it’s made me think a lot more about written action, thanks to all of the blocking we had to do. It’s interesting because as seen with the example included here, being too specific about every single action happening is unnecessary and distracting. I think that often actors/actresses also prefer less of this sort of padding as it allows them freedom to interpret the character and fill in the gaps with their own idea of the character’s behavior. In both cases, as long as the dialogue makes the emotions clear and the character(s) is (/are) already well-established, there isn’t a need for every action to be spelled out.

]]> By: Kate at Read This Book! http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-274 Kate at Read This Book! Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:27:11 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-274 Very helpful article. Tho I'm not a author, I have to write essays for school sometimes and this gave me some excellent tips. Will remember this tips the next time I write! =D Very helpful article. Tho I’m not a author, I have to write essays for school sometimes and this gave me some excellent tips. Will remember this tips the next time I write! =D

]]> By: Elinor http://kidlit.com/2009/06/02/how-to-write-dialogue-tags/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Elinor Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:27:00 +0000 http://kidlit.com/?p=453#comment-246 Great advice, this is super important stuff to remember, but it's so easy to forget while writing. This is the sort of thing that's always there in published novels, but it's easy to be careful about in your own writing. Great advice, this is super important stuff to remember, but it’s so easy to forget while writing. This is the sort of thing that’s always there in published novels, but it’s easy to be careful about in your own writing.

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